For several days the fog, consequent to swollen tides, rested on the Elbe, and the cutter rode with her foresail loose, Sleath having proposed a trip to Heligoland; but Ellinor was ill--almost oblivious of everything, while Dewsnap dared not land her, and yet feared to keep her on board, thinking that Sleath's story of her utter friendlessness might be falsehood after all. CHAPTER II. ELLINOR. Sir Redmond Sleath had no pity for the suspense and agony of mind now endured by Mary; and as for Dewsnap and Ringbolt, they knew nothing about her. During the days just mentioned the clanging of the ship's bell from time to time, and the din of fog horns from vessels passing with less than half-steam up, informed Ellinor that the fog still rested on the river; yet every morning she heard the rasping of the holystones as the deck was cleaned, and the mysterious cry of 'soak and send'--the order to pass the wet swabs along. The terror she had undergone, the subsequent affronts, unblushing and terrible--for such she deemed Sleath's love-making--and the uncertain future, all throbbed in hot and wretched thought wildly through her heart, till at last, when the yacht was fairly under way, fainting-fits and the torment of sea-sickness made reflection, fear, and regret alike impossible, for a kind of delirium came upon her, and she grew oblivious of her surroundings; but we are anticipating. 'The girl may die on our hands, if this sort of thing goes on,' said Dewsnap, 'and that might prove deuced awkward for us all.' 'I have thought of that, sir,' said Ringbolt; 'but one may as well whistle psalms to the taff-rail----' 'As attempt to move me--you are right, Mr. Ringbolt,' interrupted Sleath; 'but there is no dying in the case.' 'Why not send her ashore----?' began Dewsnap. 'And relinquish her? Not if I know it.' 'I mean to the boarding-house of the old Frau Wyburg, near the Bleichen Canal--you know the place.' 'Few rascals in Hamburg don't. She would keep her safe enough for me--it is not a bad idea; but I shall try my luck with her again before resorting to _that_.' At the cruelty Dewsnap's suggestion involved, even Ringbolt shook his head dissentingly, and said, 'Whatever you do, steer clear of her husband--the Herr Wyburg, as he calls himself--he is a dangerous and a shady party--worse than the devil himself.' 'You know Hamburg, then, Mr. Ringbolt?' 'Rather!' replied the other, with a wink that inferred a great deal. If this affair of Ellinor's abduction found its way into any of the social weeklies, it might form a very awkward thing for her; but neither for Sir Redmond or his friend, Mr. Adolphus Dewsnap, as both were now rather out of the social 'scratch race.' 'A pleasant story for the fair Blanche to hear,' surmised Sleath, as he laughingly made up a cigarette. 'Who is she?' asked Dewsnap. 'The daughter of Lord Dunkeld.'